International Journal of Clinical Practice最新文献

{"title":"Concerns of Women Diagnosed With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Regarding the Process and Having Children: A Qualitative Study","authors":"Handan Özcan,&nbsp;Sedanur Altın,&nbsp;Esra Şekercioğlu,&nbsp;Sümeyye Köse,&nbsp;Esra Güzel","doi":"10.1155/ijcp/4889905","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/ijcp/4889905","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 <p><b>Aim:</b> This study aims to examine the concerns of women diagnosed with PCOS regarding the process and childbearing using interpretative phenomenological analysis.</p>\u0000 <p><b>Methods:</b> This qualitative research was conducted between February and June 2024 with 17 women, aged 18–35 years, who had been diagnosed with PCOS within the past 1–12 months and had visited a Women’s Health Clinic at a Training and Research Hospital. The study data were collected through a personal information form and a semistructured interview form, using individual face-to-face structured interviews.</p>\u0000 <p><b>Results:</b> The emotions expressed in the interviews were categorized under three main themes: “Emotions Experienced Upon Diagnosis,” “Anxiety Regarding Childbearing,” and “Sources of Information.” During the interviews, participants narrated their emotions and experiences related to PCOS within a narrative flow. The study findings revealed that the most commonly experienced emotions were anxiety, sadness, and concerns about infertility. The majority of participants expressed significant anxiety about the possibility of not being able to conceive. The primary source of information about the disease was the Internet, followed by doctors, although it was noted that the participants felt that they did not receive sufficient information from their doctors about their condition.</p>\u0000 <p><b>Conclusion:</b> The study highlights that women with PCOS experience anxiety related to the disease and concerns about infertility after diagnosis, and it identifies the factors influencing these anxieties. The findings from this study may contribute to the development of supportive healthcare and emotion regulation strategies for women with PCOS.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":13782,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Clinical Practice","volume":"2025 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/ijcp/4889905","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143826700","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Case Series of Adult and Pediatric Basidiobolomycosis in Saudi Arabia: An Emerging Rare Disease","authors":"Fahdah Al-Mutairi,&nbsp;Adel Almaymuni,&nbsp;Bayan Hafiz,&nbsp;Alanoud Alghanem,&nbsp;Nada Rabie,&nbsp;Mohammed Samannodi,&nbsp;Nabeel Khojah,&nbsp;Ishaq Mudawi,&nbsp;Abdulkareem Alshamrani,&nbsp;Tahani Almeleebia,&nbsp;Wala Felemban,&nbsp;Daliah Abdulhafeez,&nbsp;Rehab Fadaq,&nbsp;Khalid Al Johani,&nbsp;Sara Tayeb,&nbsp;Heba Jalloun","doi":"10.1155/ijcp/1747727","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/ijcp/1747727","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 <p><b>Background:</b> Basidiobolomycosis is a fungal infection caused by <i>Basidiobolus ranarum</i>. It is primarily located in the tropical areas. It is commonly affecting the gastrointestinal tract and rarely presents with systemic affection.</p>\u0000 <p><b>Patients and Methods:</b> The records of fifteen patients, including pediatrics, from various geographic regions (western and southern regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) who were diagnosed with basidiobolomycosis in two tertiary hospitals over the last fourteen consecutive years from January 2010 to February 2023 were included. A detailed history and data for each patient were reviewed and evaluated.</p>\u0000 <p><b>Results:</b> A total of fifteen patients were found to have basidiobolomycosis, of which fourteen were found to have gastrointestinal basidiobolomycosis (GIB). They presented with abdominal pain, fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of weight. One of them with an orbital infection presented with periorbital swelling, hotness, and redness. The diagnosis was confirmed after histopathological examination with typical features of granulomatous reaction, dense infiltrate of eosinophils, and fungal structures. Seven patients were treated with antifungals alone, such as voriconazole or itraconazole. Eight patients were treated by surgical resection followed by antifungal medication. Ten patients demonstrated good clinical response and completed their treatment course, while one patient showed a slight improvement and is still receiving treatment and follow-up. There have been four reported cases of death. The length of the therapy was scheduled based on how the patients responded clinically to the intervention.</p>\u0000 <p><b>Conclusions:</b> We present the series with the most patients collected to date, and it is shown that GIB is often misdiagnosed as cancer or inflammatory bowel disease. Histological analysis confirms the diagnosis of basidiobolomycosis. The choice of therapy is still up for debate: medical intervention alone or surgical resection followed by antifungal medication.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":13782,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Clinical Practice","volume":"2025 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/ijcp/1747727","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143809532","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Causal Relationship Between Hypothyroidism and Multiple Cardiovascular Diseases: A Bidirectional Mendelian Randomization Study","authors":"Zhifeng Xu,&nbsp;Jian Peng,&nbsp;Wanjun Lu,&nbsp;Junwei Xu,&nbsp;Minglong Zhu,&nbsp;Mengxuan Yuan","doi":"10.1155/ijcp/8724692","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/ijcp/8724692","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 <p><b>Objective:</b> Hypothyroidism is associated with a variety of cardiovascular diseases, but whether they are causally related to each other is unclear. This study intends to explore the bidirectional causal relationship between hypothyroidism and four common cardiovascular diseases using Mendelian randomization (MR).</p>\u0000 <p><b>Methods:</b> Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), the instrumental variable required for the study, were obtained from the public genome-wide association study (GWAS) database, and samples were obtained from European populations. Causal effects were assessed using three methods: inverse variance weighted (IVW), MR-Egger regression, and weighted median (WM), with IVW being the main method. Sensitivity analyses were conducted using MR-PRESSO, Cochran’s <i>Q</i> test, MR-Egger regression intercept term, and leave-one-out method to assess the reliability and stability of the study results.</p>\u0000 <p><b>Results:</b> The results of IVW method showed a causal effect of hypothyroidism on coronary heart disease (CHD) (OR: 2.313, 95% CI: 1.271 to 4.208, <i>p</i> = 0.006) and hypertension (OR: 2.293, 95% CI: 1.331 to 3.955, <i>p</i> = 0.003). In contrast, there was no causal effect of hypothyroidism on arrhythmias (OR: 1.448, 95% CI: 0.885 to 2.371, <i>p</i> = 0.141) and heart failure (OR: 1.512, 95% CI: 0.775 to 2.951, <i>p</i> = 0.226). The results of MR-PRESSO and Cochran’s <i>Q</i> test showed that there was no heterogeneity in the instrumental variables included to study the effect of hypothyroidism on CHD, while there was heterogeneity in the instrumental variables included to study the effect on hypertension; also, the results of the MR-Egger regression intercept term showed that none of the included instrumental variables were horizontally pleiotropic. The results of the reverse MR analysis showed no causal effect of any of the four cardiovascular diseases on hypothyroidism.</p>\u0000 <p><b>Conclusion:</b> Patients with hypothyroidism are more likely to develop CHD as well as hypertension.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":13782,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Clinical Practice","volume":"2025 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/ijcp/8724692","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143801920","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Systematic Analysis and Critical Appraisal of Predictive Models for Lung Infection Risk in ICU Patients","authors":"Xuan Wu,&nbsp;Jing Kong,&nbsp;Zihan Sun,&nbsp;Ge Qiu,&nbsp;Zhengxiang Dai","doi":"10.1155/ijcp/4826609","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/ijcp/4826609","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 <p><b>Purpose:</b> To systematically review and evaluate predictive models for assessing the risk of lung infection in intensive care unit (ICU) patients.</p>\u0000 <p><b>Methods:</b> A comprehensive computerized search was conducted across multiple databases, including CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, SinoMed, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library, covering literature published up to March 2, 2024. The PRISMA guidelines were followed for data synthesis, and data extraction was performed according to the CHARMS checklist. The PROBAST tool was used to evaluate the risk of bias and the applicability of the included studies.</p>\u0000 <p><b>Results:</b> Fourteen studies encompassing 20 predictive models were included. The area under the curve (AUC) values of these models ranged from 0.722 to 0.936. Although the models demonstrated good applicability, the risk of bias in the included studies was high. Common predictors across the models included age, length of hospital stay, mechanical ventilation, use of antimicrobial drugs or glucocorticoids, invasive procedures, and assisted ventilation.</p>\u0000 <p><b>Conclusion:</b> Current predictive models for lung infection risk in ICU patients exhibit strong predictive performance. However, the high risk of bias highlights the need for further improvement. The main sources of bias include the neglect of handling missing data in the research, use of univariate analysis to select candidate predictors, lack of assessment of model performance, and failure to address overfitting. Future studies should expand the sample size based on the characteristics of the data and specific problems, conduct prospective studies, flexibly apply traditional regression models and machine learning, effectively combine the two, and give full play to their advantages in developing prediction models with better predictive performance and more convenient operation.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":13782,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Clinical Practice","volume":"2025 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/ijcp/4826609","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143786645","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Role of Mitochondria-Related Genes in NSCLC: Prognostic Implications and Immune Microenvironment Influence","authors":"Zhenye Pu,&nbsp;Bin Liu,&nbsp;Jin Fang,&nbsp;Yang Hu,&nbsp;Tao Xue,&nbsp;Hongyan Li","doi":"10.1155/ijcp/1337914","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/ijcp/1337914","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 <p><b>Background:</b> The role of mitochondria-related genes on non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which encompasses lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC), remains inadequately understood. This study investigates their influence on prognosis, immune microenvironment, and response to immunotherapy.</p>\u0000 <p><b>Methods:</b> We analyzed NSCLC data from The Cancer Genome Atlas to assess gene expression differences, Kaplan–Meier survival curves, and Cox regression. A prognostic model was developed using machine learning techniques. Functional enrichment and pathway analyses were performed using Gene Ontology, the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis. Single-cell RNA sequencing data from the TISCH2 database were examined to elucidate key gene expressions. Tumor Mutation Burden and differential mutation frequencies were evaluated. The ESTIMATE and TIDE algorithms were utilized to analyze the immune microenvironment and predict responses to immunotherapy.</p>\u0000 <p><b>Results:</b> Significant mitochondria-related genes were identified in both LUAD and LUSC. The StepCox [both] + Ridge model, which included 13 genes, exhibited the highest prognostic accuracy. Functional analyses indicated that these genes are involved in KRAS signaling, angiogenesis, and glycolysis. Single-cell analysis revealed that KLK6 expression is primarily localized in malignant and epithelial cells. Mutation analysis indicated that PTEN and ASPM mutations were more prevalent in low-risk groups, whereas CACNA1C and CSMD1 mutations were more common in high-risk groups. Nine genes showed strong correlations with immune scores. TIDE analysis suggested that high-risk patients may have a better response to immunotherapy, a finding corroborated by submap analysis in high-risk LUSC patients.</p>\u0000 <p><b>Conclusion:</b> Mitochondria-related genes significantly impact the prognosis of NSCLC and may influence the immune microenvironment and responses to immunotherapy. These findings enhance our understanding of NSCLC and suggest potential targets for future therapeutic interventions.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":13782,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Clinical Practice","volume":"2025 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/ijcp/1337914","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143786644","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Comparative Assessment of Postextraction Pain in Orthodontic Patients to Evaluate the Effects of Early Engagement of Tooth With Orthodontic Wires: A Single-Center Randomized Clinical Trial (RCT)","authors":"Meenaz Karim,&nbsp;Irfan Qamruddin,&nbsp;Liszen Tang,&nbsp;Adam Husein,&nbsp;Mohammad Khursheed Alam,&nbsp;Danish Ali,&nbsp;Sarvaich Kumar","doi":"10.1155/ijcp/5572808","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/ijcp/5572808","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 <p><b>Introduction:</b> The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of prior engagement of tooth with orthodontic appliance on postextraction pain among orthodontic patients.</p>\u0000 <p><b>Methods:</b> In this randomized clinical trial, 44 patients, who needed bilateral extractions of first premolars in upper arches, were recruited. Patients were divided into two groups based on the timing of extractions. Group A needed extractions before alignment, while Group B needed extractions for retraction of anterior teeth. Group A was sent for extractions first, while Group B went for orthodontic bonding and banding procedures for orthodontic treatment. After series of aligning wires (0.014, 0.016, 17 × 25, 19 × 25 heat-activated NiTi and 19 × 25 SS), patients from Group B were sent for extractions. For pain assessment, an 11-point numerical rating scale (NRS) was given to record pain intensity at 2, 4, 8, 12, and then 24 h after extraction for the next 7 days. A nonparametric Mann–Whitney <i>U</i> test was used to compare the level of pain perception between males and females and between groups.</p>\u0000 <p><b>Results:</b> Females in Group A reported greater pain (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05) at 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 h, 2nd and 3rd day after extraction, while there was no gender dimorphism in Group B. Group A reported more pain at 2, 4, 8, and 12 h after extractions when compared with Group B (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05).</p>\u0000 <p><b>Conclusions:</b> Early engagement of teeth with orthodontic appliances may potentially reduce postextraction pain in patients.</p>\u0000 <p><b>Trial Registration:</b> ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT06582836.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":13782,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Clinical Practice","volume":"2025 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/ijcp/5572808","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143770009","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluating Self-Perceived Oral Health Status and Sociodemographic Factors in Saudi Arabian Children: An Observational Study","authors":"Muteb Algharbi,&nbsp;Hatem D. Alshammari,&nbsp;Nashwa Alzaki Ali Bushara,&nbsp;Abdulrahman K. Alshammari,&nbsp;Mohammed K. Alotaibi,&nbsp;Njoud Abuhaimed,&nbsp;Faris O. Alotaibi,&nbsp;Heba F. Alsubhi,&nbsp;Haitham A. Alraddadi,&nbsp;Mohammad H. Aljoudi,&nbsp;Mohammed A. Alqarni,&nbsp;Ebtsam Aledaili,&nbsp;Ammar A. Siddiqui","doi":"10.1155/ijcp/1776660","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/ijcp/1776660","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 <p><b>Background:</b> It is critical to measure children’s opinions of their oral health to understand their attitudes and self-awareness, spot discrepancies between their perceived and actual health, and develop tailored intervention strategies. In addition, it supports understanding the impact on parenting styles and the general quality of life of the children, resulting in more specialized and effective dental health initiatives.</p>\u0000 <p><b>Objectives:</b> The present study was planned to evaluate children’s self-perceptions towards their oral health status across Saudi Arabia.</p>\u0000 <p><b>Methods:</b> Data for this observational study were obtained from children by licensed dentists working in various regions of the country using a nonprobability sampling technique. Inferential and descriptive statistics were used to present data. The World Health Organization (WHO) basic survey method questionnaire was used as a study tool.</p>\u0000 <p><b>Results:</b> The present study recruited <i>N</i> = 606 participants by the convenient sampling technique. Almost half (50%) of the participants believed their oral health status to be varied from good to excellent. For certain regions such as Medina and Riyadh, the dominant category of self-perception was “Excellent,” whilst for Ha’il region, it was found to be “average,” followed by “poor” in Makkah. Self-perceptions toward the oral health status were found to be associated with various sociodemographic factors, such as parents’ education, age of children, gender, and region. Self-perception of oral health was significantly associated with parental education, age, gender, and regional differences.</p>\u0000 <p><b>Conclusion:</b> Most participants believed their oral health status to be either good or average. The responses varied among regions. The oral health status was found to be associated with sociodemographic variables. Future research should further investigate the factors contributing to regional differences and evaluate targeted interventions. The findings emphasize the importance of tailoring interventions to specific regions, as variations in self-perceptions of oral health may indicate underlying disparities in health awareness and access to care among children in Saudi Arabia.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":13782,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Clinical Practice","volume":"2025 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/ijcp/1776660","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143762023","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Interspecies Competitive Interactions of Clinical Isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii With Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa","authors":"Qutaiba Ababneh,&nbsp;Rahaf Alqazaq,&nbsp;Ziad Jaradat,&nbsp;Hala Khanjar","doi":"10.1155/ijcp/5516061","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/ijcp/5516061","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 <p>Many microbial infections are caused by multiple species. However, little is known about the detailed interactions and mechanisms underlying competition between coexisting pathogens. <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i> is a major nosocomial pathogen that is often involved in mixed infections. To date, few studies have focused on the interactions between <i>A</i>. <i>baumannii</i> and other common coinfectious microbes. In this study, we aimed to investigate the interspecies competition among clinical <i>A. baumannii</i> isolates with <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i>, <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, <i>and Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>. <i>A. baumannii</i> isolates were recovered from 56 patients in three major hospitals in Jordan between 2018 and 2019. The isolates were obtained from various clinical specimens, including sputum, wound, blood, and urine. Clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant <i>S</i>. <i>aureus</i>, <i>P</i>. <i>aeruginosa</i>, <i>and K</i>. <i>pneumoniae</i> were also used. Interactions between <i>A</i>. <i>baumannii</i> isolates and each of the other species were investigated through 168 interspecies competition assays, and each experiment was done in duplicate. The results revealed that <i>A</i>. <i>baumannii</i> outcompeted <i>K</i>. <i>pneumoniae</i>, significantly reducing its growth, with the degree of reduction varying depending on the clinical origin of <i>the A</i>. <i>baumannii</i> isolates. Moreover, the growth of <i>S</i>. <i>aureus</i> was decreased regardless of the <i>A</i>. <i>baumannii</i> clinical origin, with a higher reduction compared to <i>K</i>. <i>pneumoniae</i>. On the other hand, the presence of <i>P</i>. <i>aeruginosa</i> led to a significant decrease in the <i>A</i>. <i>baumannii</i> growth, while the growth of <i>P</i>. <i>aeruginosa</i> was significantly increased after coculture with <i>A. baumannii</i>. The present study provides evidence that the <i>A</i>. <i>baumannii</i> isolates have competitive advantages over both <i>S</i>. <i>aureus</i> and <i>K</i>. <i>pneumoniae</i>. In contrast, <i>P</i>. <i>aeruginosa</i> outcompetes <i>A</i>. <i>baumannii</i> isolates. Our findings provide new insights to identify potential therapeutics to control coinfections.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":13782,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Clinical Practice","volume":"2025 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/ijcp/5516061","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143762024","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing Knowledge and Attitude of Pediatricians and Pharmacists Regarding Monitoring Unbound Valproic Acid Concentration in Pediatric Patients With Hypoalbuminemia","authors":"Nada Safhi,&nbsp;Mayam Alharthi,&nbsp;Hanadi Alrammaal,&nbsp;Rahaf Ali,&nbsp;Naji Alsulami","doi":"10.1155/ijcp/5591970","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/ijcp/5591970","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 <p><b>Background:</b> Valproic acid (VPA), an antiepileptic medication, is widely used in pediatric settings. Around 90%–95% of VPA is bound to plasma proteins, predominately albumin. Physiological alterations leading to hypoalbuminemia may increase free VPA concentrations. In such a case, a total VPA may reflect therapeutical total concentration, while the free VPA concentration could be supratherapeutic. Monitoring of total VPA concentrations solely in hypoalbuminemia patients may mislead clinical decisions. The aim of this study is to assess the awareness, knowledge, and attitude levels of pediatric’ physicians and pharmacists regarding monitoring of unbound VPA concentrations in pediatric patients with hypoalbuminemia.</p>\u0000 <p><b>Method:</b> A cross-sectional study was conducted from September to October 2023 in multicenter in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Sociodemographic information of registered pediatric clinicians and pharmacists were collected. Participants’ knowledge and practice regarding monitoring of VPA were assessed via a reviewed questionnaire.</p>\u0000 <p><b>Result:</b> A total of 226 participants completed the survey. Around 62% of respondents (<i>n</i> = 141) stated knowing how to monitor VPA levels, but only 19.9% (<i>n</i> = 45) were aware of the association between VPA and albumin plasma concentrations. About half of participants reported availability of total VPA assay in their institutions (<i>n</i> = 121, 53%), while minor percentage reported the availability of measuring free VPA concentrations in their institutions (<i>n</i> = 24, 10.6%). Over half of participants do not check albumin levels while monitoring VPA (<i>n</i> = 132, 58.4%). A statistically significant associations between VPA positive knowledge score were noted with age (<i>p</i> = 0.019), gender (<i>p</i> = 0.009), healthcare specialty (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), and years of experience (<i>p</i> = 0.001). None of these factors were significantly associated with positive practice toward VPA monitoring.</p>\u0000 <p><b>Conclusion:</b> The suboptimal practice of monitoring free VPA concentrations in cases of hypoalbuminemia in pediatric settings, mainly due to lack of awareness. Healthcare providers should be educated regarding the importance of monitoring free VPA concentration in the case of hypoalbuminemia.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":13782,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Clinical Practice","volume":"2025 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/ijcp/5591970","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143749599","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Probiotics′ Effects on Depression, High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP), and Oxidative Stress in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis: A Meta-Analysis","authors":"Seyed-Amir Tabatabaeizadeh,&nbsp;Niayesh Tafazoli","doi":"10.1155/ijcp/3754973","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/ijcp/3754973","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 <p><b>Objectives:</b> Major depressive disorder (MDD) is highly prevalent in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). There is evidence that the gut microbiota affect the inflammatory responses and oxidative status in MS and may affect depression signs and symptoms in these patients. Based on this fact, this updated meta-analysis assessed the effect of probiotic supplementation on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in patients with MS.</p>\u0000 <p><b>Methods:</b> A systematic literature search was done for English literature through PubMed/Medline, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect from 1 January 2011 to 1 June 2024. This study followed the PRISMA guidelines. Based on the heterogeneity, the random-effects or fixed-effects models were used in the present meta-analysis.</p>\u0000 <p><b>Results:</b> After checking for eligibility, four RCTs were included in the final analysis. There was an improvement in BDI-II score, hs-CRP level, MDA, and TAC in patients with MS (BDI-II score: MD = −2.78; 95% CI, −3.32 to −2.24; <i>Z</i> = 10.09; <i>p</i> &lt; 0.00001; <i>I</i>² = 57%; <i>p</i> = 0.1; hs-CRP level: MD = −1.69; 95% CI, −1.98 to −1.40; <i>Z</i> = 11.38; <i>p</i> &lt; 0.00001; <i>I</i>² = 0%; <i>p</i> = 0.96; MDA: MD = −0.37; 95% CI, −0.52 to −0.23; <i>Z</i> = 5.00; <i>p</i> &lt; 0.00001; <i>I</i>² = 90%; <i>p</i> &lt; 0.0001; and TAC: MD = 5.48; 95% CI, −6.71 to 17.66; <i>Z</i> = 0.88; <i>p</i> = 0.38; <i>I</i>² = 93%; <i>p</i> &lt; 0.00001).</p>\u0000 <p><b>Conclusion:</b> This meta-analysis suggests that probiotic supplementation has improved BDI scores and inflammatory and oxidative status. This finding promises that probiotic supplementation can be considered as a therapeutic option for depression symptoms and inflammatory status in patients with MS. However, more interventional studies are required to assess the complex relationship between MS, depression, and the gut microbiome. PROSPERO Registration ID: CRD42024552648.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":13782,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Clinical Practice","volume":"2025 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/ijcp/3754973","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143735518","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}